piston lightening

[jimbob-mcgrew]

anyone know much about this ? ... curious.

ive seen a few things online regarding taking metal out of the underside of the head.

is it ok to cut the skirts/legs, down a bit too, or are they needed for balance ?

[millworm]

Won't proper lightened hi comp 16v small block ones fit

[jimbob-mcgrew]

probably, but they will cost a bomb

[Peredur]

I'm looking into slipper pistons of 2 wheeled origin combined with a hellish long rod for my build

[jimbob-mcgrew]

slippers the short heads right ? ... like this ?



i had a theoretical build in mind, to do something similar, and make up the difference with longer rods, but then i thought screw-it, why not just keep the existing ones, and slice 10mm off the block. it will probably chop a few kilo's from the front of the car at the same time.

the gearbox mounting bolts look like there inside that 10mm tho, so not sure if its do-able, without some modification, or less bolts holding the box on.

can you chop the skirts off pistons, and turn them into semi-slippers ?

[therealnovaboy]

theres no reason why not, however if you do you will run the risk of more wear on the bores, more wear on the piston, weaken the piston and possibly put the piston out of balance. if you can do it without effecting these or do not need to have the reliability and longevity of the original piston then fill your boots.